Crate



Feb. `11, 1930. W H, HENNESSEY 1,746,470

CRATE v Filed Feb. 2. 1928 Patented Feb. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES rArENr OFFICE WILLIAM n. IIENNEssRY, or VALPARAISO, CHILE, AssreNoR rro AMERICAN SHEET AND TIN PLATE COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH,

JERSEY rnNNsYLvANIA, A CORPORATION or NEWA CRATE Application filed February 2, 1928.

This invention relates to crates and, While not limited thereto, relates more particularly to crates for packaging sheets and plates for export shipping.

When shipping sheets and plates for export it has been found advantageous to pack the sheets in piles of approximately three and three-fourths inches thick or high, and to then crate such `piles so that they may be loaded on edge and handled mechanically both When loading and unloading.

The present crate provides a relatively light Weight crate of sufficient strength to Withstand the rough handling of the export trade and has Vlifting lugs or eyes by Which the different crane hooks and other mechanical r ing of the crates they are subjected to more or less rough handling and, therefore, it is essential that some means be provided for cushioning the edges of the sheets. lThe present crate provides a Wooden enclosure around the edges of the sheets which Will Cushion the edges and prevent the bending of the edges of the sheets.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pile of sheets crated in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan thereof.

Figure 3 is an end elevation thereof.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation on the line IV-IV of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional end elevation, similar to Figure 4, showing further details of my improved crate.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 2 designates the pile of sheets and a rim-like enclosure 3 is arranged to snugly engage the edges of the piled sheets. The rim-like enclosure 3 is preferably formed of Wood or other non-metallic material so as to cushion the edges of the piled sheets during handling and transport.

The ends of the enclosure 3 are reenforced and strengthened by U-shaped metal boot members 4 which extend across the ends of the enclosure 3 and along each side of the piled sheets for a material distance. The

Serial No; 251,379.

boots 4 are secured to the enclosure 3 by nails, bolts or the like and serve to prevent the displacement of the ends of the sheets,

A plurality of strap members 5, which are shown as Composed of round cross-section rod` or bar stock but Whichmay be ofany desired cross-section, are positioned around the bottom edge and sides of the crate. The strap members 5 extend along the sides of the crated sheets and across the outside face of.

In the particular embodiment of the inven-- tion shown three straps are shown positioned an equal distance from each other and from the ends of the crate; The clamp bars or saddles 7 connected to the end straps are provided With a lifting eye 9 intermediate their ends,`

toprovide for the attachment of lifting hooks or other tools connected With mechanical handling apparatus such as a crane.

While I have shown and described the use of three. straps on the crate it will be understood that any number may be used asdesired, and also that, if desired, the clamp bars or saddles connected to all of the straps may have lifting eyes thereon.

When it is desired to pack or crate sheets fr plates in the crates of 'this invention, the sheets are broken ed inlifts of about three and three-fourths inches thick so that each lift will fit into a crate having a depth of four inches.

The lift or pile of sheets to be crated is laid fiat on a table or bench and t-he enclosure 3, which is preferably form-ed of Wood, is built around the edge of the sheet-s. The bench is provided With grooves to permit the str-aps 5 to bel positioned around the package or crate and secured in position. The end boots 4 are then positioned over the ends of the crate and secured to the enclosure 3, Completing the crate.

In shipping the crated sheets for export, the crated sheets are loaded on edge into gondola cars by a crane which is connected to the eyes or lugs 9 on the clamp bars 7.

s On arrival at the seaboard the cars are run onto the dock directly 'alongside the ship and the `crates are lifted from the cars by a crane or ships tackle connected to the lugs or eyes 9 and de osited in the bottom of the 1o vship on edge. A ter a complete 'row has been loaded on the bottom of the ship, suitable timber or stringers are laid over the crates and a second row loaded on the top of -the first row, and so on until the ship is loaded.

l5 On arrival at their destination the crates are also unloaded mechanically and stored in edgew'ise position se as to permit the connection Aof mechanical 4handling apparatus to the lifting lugs or e. es 9.

.o In 'every instance tiie `crates are handled mechanically 'and much time and labor is saved over that necessary to manually lia-ndie sheets anC olate's as ordinarily crated.

I'clailn- A cra-te for piles of sheets and plates adapted gto be positioned edgewise for shipping, comprising a rim-like non-metallic enclosure adapted to enclose 'and be in direct contact with the edges of the piled sheets, metal boot u members mounted over the ends of said `enclosure and extending along the sides of the pile of sheets for a 'material distance, said boots being secured to said enclosure, a pluralityof straps passing under the one side u of said enclosure and extending up along the side faces of said piled sheets, one of said straps being positioned adjacent each end of vsaid crate and at -le'ast one strap being positioned inter-mediate said end straps, clamp 0 bars extending across the other side 0i' 'said enclosure and secured to the ends of said straps,jsaid clamp bars secu-red to said end straps being providedwith integra-l lifting eyes, said clamp bars being secured to said u straps Vby pass-ing the ends of V said stra-ps through eyes in said bars and bending the ends onf-said straps back :along the body thereof to form loops, said straps being 'of suiiicient rigidity to cause said loops to be self- ,o sustaining when said `crated pile of sheets is lifted and suspended by said end clamp bars.

-In Atestimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name. ,Y ,5 WILLIAM H. HENNESSEY. 

